The acronym MSA stands for Measurement Systems Analysis. Many people are familiar with Gage R&R’s and MSA is the more comprehensive umbrella that includes Gage R&R’s but also addresses a broader range of measurement systems. Often when we use a measurement device it is easy to forget the importance of the capability of the device […]
The Run at Rate process is essentially a process validation component which verifies the capabilities of not only the process, but also that associated equipment and machinery can perform at the required production output. The term originates from the automotive sector as part of the APQP process. As technology changes new prototype parts are continually presented […]
Have you heard about the death of ISO9000? As the automotive companies launched into the TS16949 programs it became obvious to this author the ISO program was moving down a path of no return. There are several reasons the ISO registrations are on the decline in developed countries: The ISO system simply isn’t scalable or […]
Back before ISO, QS and TS there was another quality management system from Ford called Q1. While it still exists today its prominence has diminished with the move towards common standards and the global expansion of the ISO9000 programs. Back during its beginning it was a gold standard for quality management systems. ISO was developing out […]
During spring cleaning this week we were purging training materials more than twenty years old. How many of these terms do you remember? SPC, Lean, DMIAC, Six Sigma, TPS, ISO9000, Cost of Quality, PPM, VA, Mistake Proofing, Cp, Cpk, Ppk, AIAG, A2LA, Run at Rate, Control Charts, DOE, OEE, Downtime, Setup, Cycle time, Variation, […]